Esmail Qaani, IRGC Quds Force Leader, Appears in Tehran Amid Death Rumors
In a surprising turn of events, Iranian state television broadcast live images of Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. This appearance came in response to circulating rumors regarding his alleged death in Lebanon.
The Iranian broadcaster showcased Qaani participating in a ceremony honoring the remains of Abbas Nilfroushan, the head of the Lebanon file for the Quds Force, who was killed in an airstrike targeting the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on September 27.
Following the spread of rumors about Qaani’s demise, Tasnim News Agency reported last Wednesday that his advisor, Ibrahim Jabari, confirmed Qaani is safe and will soon receive an award from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Earlier reports from two senior Iranian security officials, cited by Reuters, indicated that Qaani had traveled to Lebanon after the airstrike that killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. However, there had been no updates on his status since Israel intensified its bombardment of southern Lebanon the previous week.
Qaani’s Leadership Role
Qaani took over as the head of the Quds Force, responsible for the IRGC’s military and intelligence operations abroad, after the United States assassinated his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad in 2020.
On Sunday, Khamenei awarded the IRGC Aerospace Forces commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Order of Fate for his pivotal role in the missile attack launched by Tehran against Israel on October 1.
Rising Tensions in Lebanon
The conflicting reports regarding Qaani’s fate emerge amidst a backdrop of repeated Israeli assassinations targeting leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon, including the recent killings of Nasrallah and Nilfroushan. Since September 23, Israel has been conducting its most extensive and intense military campaign against Lebanon, escalating the conflict that began with hostilities against Hezbollah on October 8, 2023. The ongoing attacks have resulted in hundreds of casualties and displaced thousands, many of whom are now without shelter.
